Antoine Griezmann, Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Julian Alvarez were some of the standout stars of the 2022 World Cup (Photo by FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

With the World Cup all done and dusted following Sunday’s final between Argentina and France, it’s time to reflect on the very best players from Qatar 2022.

There were so many standout stars from nearly all 32 teams at the tournament, from established world-class players and underrated gems to promising youngsters and veteran captains.

Football may not have come home this Christmas, but some of these stars will go down in the sport’s history.

With all that in mind, Metro Sport picks a best XI of players from the first-ever Winter World Cup:

GK: Dominik Livakovic (Croatia)

There was simply no way Livakovic could be left out of this team after his penalty saving heroics helped Croatia win not one but two shootouts.

The Dinamo Zagreb keeper saved five spot-kicks to knock out Japan and tournament favourites Brazil and prior to the semi-finals had conceded just two goals in normal time.

Dominik Livakovic penalty saving heroics made him a household name in Qatar (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

RB: Achraf Hakimi (Morocco)

An honourable mention to Dutch defender Denzel Dumfries, especially after his phenomenal performance against the USA, but Hakimi takes the cake at right-back after Morocco made history in Qatar.

The first African team to reach the semi-finals did so off the back of a near-impenetrable defence, with PSG star Hakimi making more tackles than any other player at the tournament.

Achraf Hakimi is one of the most expensive full-backs in the world (Photo by David Ramos – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

CB: Harry Souttar (Australia)

The likes of Argentina’s Nicolas Otamendi and England duo John Stones and Harry Maguire would have also been worthy of this team, but the comeback story of Souttar could not be ignored.

After an ACL injury in November 2021, the Stoke star went to Qatar having played virtually no football for a year, yet put in immense performances to help Australia shockingly reach the knockouts, with the only goals they conceded coming against finalists France and Argentina.

Harry Souttar has spent the last year out with an ACL injury (Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images)

CB: Josko Gvardiol (Croatia)

Subject of huge transfer interest from Chelsea and Real Madrid, Gvardiol’s price has only gone up after a magnificent campaign in Qatar where he more than held his own against the likes of Romelu Lukaku and Neymar.

The 20-year-old currently at RB Leipzig has been described as ‘the best in the world’ by his national team manager and off the back of this World Cup, it’s hard to argue with him.

Josko Gvardiol has been linked with a big money move to Chelsea or Real Madrid (Photo by Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images)

LB: Theo Hernandez (France)

Theo Hernandez was not expecting to play much this tournament with older brother Lucas ahead of him in the pecking order, but after he was injured early on in France’s opening game, the AC Milan left-back was thrown into the thick of it.

While Les Bleus’ defensive record leaves a lot to be desired, Hernandez provided plenty going forward, recording two assists and scoring once en-route to the final.

Theo Hernandez replaced his older brother Lucas in France’s side (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

CDM: Sofyan Amrabat (Morocco)

Prior to the semi-finals, Morocco had conceded just one (own) goal in five games, keeping clean sheets against Portugal, Spain, Croatia and Belgium, with Amrabat playing a significant role in that achievement.

If his impressive tackle, interceptions and passing stats weren’t enough, his monumental tackle on Kylian Mbappe in the narrow defeat to France will go down as one of the most iconic moments of Qatar 2022.

Sofyan Amrabat made a sensational tackle on Kylian Mbappe (Photo by GIUSEPPE CACACE/AFP via Getty Images)

CM: Jude Bellingham (England)

Football may not have come home this winter, but England’s future is incredibly bright with 19-year-old Bellingham already looking like the complete package.

A player who excels both offensively and defensively, Bellingham makes it in this team ahead of Croatia captain Luka Modric who continues to perform at the highest level even at the age of 37.

Jude Bellingham has been touted as a future England captain (Photo by Stefan Matzke – sampics/Corbis via Getty Images)

CAM: Antoine Griezmann (France)

Bruno Fernandes deserves a mention after his five goal contributions for Portugal went completely unnoticed, but without Griezmann France would not have made it to back-to-back finals.

The Atletico Madrid man has played in 74 consecutive games for Didier Deschamps’ side and while his creativity has once again been on display, the 31-year-old’s work-rate and defensive output has really caught the eye in Qatar.

Antoine Griezmann has three assists at the World Cup (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)

RW: Lionel Messi (Argentina)

Whether he won or lost the final, this was Messi’s World Cup, with the Greatest Of All-Time showing everyone why he has earned that title.

Whether he was scoring, assisting or leading Argentina back from their humiliating defeat to Saudi Arabia, the little magician was THE player of the tournament from start to finish.

Lionel Messi scored five goals and got three assists at the World Cup (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

ST: Julian Alvarez (Argentina)

OIivier Giroud may feel hard done by, especially after breaking Thierry Henry’s record, but Alvarez was the striker nobody, not even himself, saw coming in Qatar.

A brace in the semi-final capped off a brilliant breakthrough tournament for the Manchester City youngster who epitomised all that was good about Argentina’s campaign.

Julian Alvarez is Man City’s back-up striker to Erling Haaland (Photo by JUAN MABROMATA/AFP via Getty Images)

LW: Kylian Mbappe (France)

The heir to Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo’s throne, Mbappe bounced back from an awful Euro 2020 to stake his claim as the best forward in the world right now.

Little more can be said about him, only that Pele’s record of three World Cup triumphs really might be under threat from the sensational 22-year-old.

MORE : The reason why Anthony Taylor was blocked from refereeing the World Cup final

MORE : Croatia beat Morocco in thrilling match to claim third-place at 2022 World Cup

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